Ramos says JP experience fits commissioner responsibilities

A Democratic Party County Commissioner candidate Annie Ramos hopes her past experience as a justice of the peace will set her apart in the upcoming runoff election.

Ramos, who served as Precinct 1 justice of the peace from January 1997 to March, beat out four other candidates in the May primary election.

She hopes to win the Democratic Party nomination for the November election over Danny Garcia, a retired transportation specialist from Texas Department of Transportation.

Ramos said the concept and responsibilities of commissioners has changed over the years. She estimated it is about 85 percent administrative, where it once focused on the physical building of roads and bridges.

"We have people who are already experienced working with roads," Ramos said. "You don't have to have experience to be a county commissioner in that particular part of your duty."

Because Precinct 1 has a good crew and foreman, she said she wants to focus on finding grant opportunities to better the communities.

Although federal grants come with sometimes strict protocol, Ramos said she is more worried about helping the community and would not pass up the opportunity.

Tony Figuora, of Victoria and neighbor to Ramos, said he supports her in the July 31 runoff.

"She's been a very effective justice of the peace," Figuora said. "She's always done the best she can for the citizens of her precinct. I think she will continue doing as good as job as she's done."

Figuora said Ramos' experience in dealing with truancy and the county's youth, and passion for education will be an asset to the commissioners court.